Livestock gates and construction thereof



March 1o, 1959` l R. E...||uNDA|-|L LIVESTOCK GATES ANC CONSTRUCTIONTHERCCN f Filed April 1e,- 195s Vv0 l INVENTOR. Robe/Tf E, '//a/ma/ BY IIl( Arrows/5% LIVESTOCK GATES AND CONSTRUCTIQN THEREOF i Robert EugeneHundahl, Tekamah, Nebr. I Application April 16, 1956, Serial No. 578,479s 'claims'. (ci. ass-14) This invention relates to the provision ofcrossing areas designed to prevent the passage of livestock from oneside to the other but to permit passage of humans or vehicles and refersmore particularly to an improved crossing area and means whereby areasof dilerent length and width may conveniently be formed.

As will be familiar to those having experience with such domesticanimals as cattle, it has long been the practice to provide the pens orields where they are kept with gates which are quite unlike theunconventional barrier-type gates, that is, gates which require openingand closing each time it is desired to pass therethrough. The usual typeof livestock gate consists of a seriesof spaced met-al pipes or barswhich are supported at ground level above an open pit formed across thespan of the gate area. It s a well-known fact that livestock will notproceed across such an arrangement, the openings between the bars orpipes serving to frighten them from making the attempt. However, thebars provide adequate support for humans, who have the ability to picktheir way across, and vehicles. Thus the area acts as an effective guardagainst movement therethrough of the livestock while still permittingpassage of humans and vehicles without requiring opening and closing ofa conventional gate structure.

All cattle guarding gates of which I have knowledge, however, are opento objection on several major grounds.

First, they are designed to lit a specific gate span and area and,consequently, cannot be used where conditions are such that the span maybe greater or less than that for which they are designed. Secondly, theyare constructed of heavy materials and are so anchored to the groundthat once installed they are to all intents and purposes permanent.Third, even of they could be removed from one location,V they cannot bemoved to another location and again set in place without involving theefforts of several men. Fourth, if assembled on the spot, they requirebolting and welding in order to secure the parts together, whichnecessitates special equipment and tools.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cattleguarding gate in which the difficulties outlined above are eifectivelyovercome. In my invention I have done away with the conventional pipesand bars and their connections with an adequate anchoring and supportingassembly. A feature of the invention resides in the fact that my gate iscomposed of a plurality of self-contained small gate forming units soconstructed that there are openings formed therein to discourage passageof livestock, the openings being arranged in a pattern providingintermediate supporting surfaces which will support the weight of humansand vehicles so that the latter can nevertheless proceed thereover. Eachunit is so constructed as to provide a fractional part of the totalsurface area, the units cooperating with one another to provide the fullgate area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate of the characterdescribed in which by virtue of its `com- 2,876,997 Patented Mar, 10,1959.

posite assembly the gate can be adapted to openings of different widthsand lengths with ease and facility. The manner of construction of theindividual gate forming units is such that they can be combined inanynumber, depending on the area available.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate of the characterdescribed which is especially adapted for use in temporary situations.The assembly of the gate from a plurality of independent and relativelysmall units each designed to provide a fractional part of the over-al1gate surface permits their easy installation in and removal from a givenlocation by one man.

Another object of the invention is to provide agate of the characterdescribed in which the individual gate forming units are provided with a.plurality of openings of a size to receive a hoof of such livestock asthe gateis designed to contain but in whichvthe construction of the unitis such that the surface... surrounding said opening is rmly supportedand is capable of withstanding the weight of heavy vehicles.

Still another object is to provide a gate of the char,-v acter describedwhich can be manufactured at low cost, can be easily transported fromthe place to another, is capable of withstanding years of rugged use,and can be repaired quickly and easily by removal of a damaged sectionand replacing it with a new section without requiring complete removalUof the entire gate from the ground.

Other and further objects together with the `features,

of novelty appurtenant thereto will appear during the course of thefollowing description. In the accompanying drawing, which forms apartof; the instant specification and is to be read in conjunctiontherewith, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts inthe various views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form `of individual gateforming unit, parts being shown in section for purposes of illustration;and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of apreferred gate embodying a plurality ofthe gate forming units, the ground being broken away at one corner 'forpurposes of illustration.

Referringvto the drawing, in Fig.A 2 is illustrated a preferredgate'equipped with-a livestock guard embodying the features of myinvention. Such a guard maybe located between pastures and fields, infeeding pens, or wherever else it may be desired to have an entrythrough a fence or wall which will prevent livestockv from passingtherethrough but which nevertheless willv permit untrainmelled passageof humans and/or vehicles.

tion with a conventional fence having the posts 10 and the posts. I

The illustrated livestock guard is made up of a plu rality of identicalgate-forming units 14, the details of which are shown in Fig. 1. Eachunit comprises a rectangular structure provided with a plurality ofpassageways 16 extending therethrough from top to bottom, thepassageways being separated from one another by con* tinuous partitions18. The units can be manufactured from any suitable stress-bearingmaterial, preferably by molding. Examples of preferable materials areconcrete, synthetic resin compounds or hard rubber. It will beunderstood however, that other materials may be used, the onlyrequirement being that they have suicient strength to resist thecompression created by vehicles which may pass thereover. As will benoted the passageway 16 forms openings in the upper surface of the unitswhich are bounded by the end surfaces of the partitions 1S. Eachpassageway is preferably of a size For purposes ofillustration, the gatehas been shown in connec- 3 whichwilrpermientry'ofthe hoof of theparticular animal being'penned:

ln constructing the gate illustrated in Fig. 2, the units 14 areplacedin apit `of a depth such that the tops. ci

thevunitsfareush with rthe rsurrounding groundsurfa'ce.- li'desiredj asand "iill' 20""car`1-1be distributed over the bottom A`otthe pitpriorto installation' et4 the gate formingunits.y Sand fllaids in drainage,providing a porous base surface for absorption omoisture. The units aresoplaced'that they abut one another closely to'provide a contirnlous`-structure with the ends' of' the partitions 18' and sidewalls of theunits vdisposed"sulflstantially in ar commonjrplane. A

A s'willj'be evident, thej'sidewalls4 ofg'the pit terminate adjacent'theoutside walls oli` the outermost Uunits '14' in the assembly 'and'serveto rholdtlna assembly together.`

If; after rinstallation of-'the' desired i number 'of units anygap-reniains ybetv'vee'nthe 'wallsjo'the pit 'and'- the outsidef units;jthe gapfcan" b eflled andI tantip'edA t'oyredgetlleL assembly:together.

I n'the'assembled gat-e "thepassagewaysfllforni a patt ternl olivopenings across="'the entirefwidth and' length ofthe gateI surfacexwhichY are eiective Ito discourage Alivestock from attempting tocross-fromon'sideto theV other. The cross-sectional arealofthe'passagewayshould be relatively great as compared-with the visiblearea ofy the= endsl of thelpartitionsiso lthattheo'peri areas will lbethe predominant visible feature. The interconnection of the'vpartitionswith one anotherandlthe fact-"thatlthey extend `from top to bottom makesit possible to provide quite narrow partitionswhich will nevertheless beableto withstand heavy loads without compressive buckling.

Each partition--acts"as-stilener'foranother-and' in the preferred unit,-where all partitions restonthe base surface of the pit, each--partitioncontributes materially in supporting loads whichl comeincontacttherewith. Stated-fotherwismn myt assemblyhthe partitions vare notrequired Vto assumey any beam stresses, which is vnot the case in theconventional parallelbar typearran'gement.

While I have shown an 'assembled crossing employing fifteen Iof theYunits 14,-? it will be iunderstood that the number of units canbe'varied 'as `desiredr to provideK crossing-areas of diierent 'widthsand-*different lengths. The 'shapeof the crossing Vcan also 'bevvariedForexample,l L-shape as well Vas U-shape crossings are possible, itbeing necessary only to combine the units in such fashionl as :toproducethe desired shape. `1

It will also `-beunderstoodthat-whilst have shown Square passageways intheV units, 'the Shapes, ofthe pas of livestock, is convenient foralmost all situations. The sizel of`L each opening in -the unit-shouldbesuch/as'to provide an open circular area from 4 to 8 inches indiameter, the exact diameter' again depending on the type of livestockinvolved and the average hoof size thereof.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have accomplished all ofthe ends and objects hereinbetore set forth. The gate is readilyportable since it can be removedA in'sections by-one man, loaded' onevehicle and moved to and installed in another location. Should anydamage occur to any one of the individual units, it can be removed andreplaced without disturbing the rest ofV the assembly.V l s It will beunderstoodI that certain' features and subcombinations aref-of utilityand mayfb'eemployed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within thc scope of theclaims.

As many possible. embodiments may be madeofthe invention withoutdeparting from'V the' scdpe':thai-cio'i,j it

or shownin the accompanying drawings 'is to `lxairiterpreted-asillustrative and not in a limiting sense'.

Having thusl described my' invention,j I claim:

l. A livestock guard comprisin'g'fa box-likeelementv of considerableheight havingaperipheral walls andi intersecting partitions dividingsaid element into a plurality of vertically arranged passageways, thecross-sectional area of each passageway being larger than that'- of theVhoot of the livestock to be restrained thereby. `v

2. Ina crossing guard for livestock, the combination of a substantiallyilat base-surface, a plurality of similar independcntblock-like guardelements arranged upon and supported by said ybase surface, said:elements abutting oneanotherfin an intertting and side by siderelationship,

each element being o f considerable height and having peripheral wallsand intersecting'partitions dividing said element into a plurality ofvertically arranged passageways, the cross-sectional area of eachpassageway being larger than that of the hoof'oithe livestockto be re-Vstrained thereby, the upper surfaces of the `partitions and peripheral'walls formingl a road bed' for vehicles and humans.

3. A livestock guard forming. unit adapted to be 'used` in multiple toconstruct guardsof different widths and lengths Acomprising a box-likeclement of considerable height:having peripheral walls and intersectingpartitions dividing saidv element intofa pluralityof--vertically ar`ranged passageways, the 'cross-sectional area of each passageway beinglarger than that of the hoof of the live stockfto be restrained thereby.

References Citedin the rile of this patent UNITED STA-res I PATENTS

